JD CYMRU NORTH
Ruthin Town lost their six-match unbeaten record in 2023 last weekend when they slipped up 1-0 at Gresford Athletic.
On Friday night, Philly Hudson’s Vale of Clwyd side host Llanidloes Town and look a good bet to return to winning ways.
Saturday sees a real relegation six-pointer as fourth-bottom Chirk AAA host basement boys Penrhyncoch.
Chirk’s confidence will be high after back-to-back wins following a 12-match barren streak without a victory. Last weekend the Colliers really shone in a 5-0 triumph at Porthmadog.
Penrhyn have lost three on the bounce – all by a single goal – since pipping fellow strugglers Holyhead Hotspur 2-1 at the end of January.
Chirk should edge this one, but the Roosters are definitely capable of grabbing a point.
Unbeaten leaders Colwyn Bay – 22 consecutive victories and 67 points out of a possible 69 – should comfortably see off visitors Conwy Borough, who are without a win in seven.
Holyhead Hotspur, one off the bottom, badly need three points at home to a Guilsfield outfit which has blown hot and cold for much of the season, but is still handily placed in seventh.
An away win looks the favourite.
Second-place Holywell Town will target a double when they host a Cefn Druids team the Wellmen swept aside 3-0 away back in August.
Revenge will be on Llandudno’s minds as they entertain a Buckley Town side which beat the Seasiders 1-0 at Globe Way early in the campaign.
Mold Alexandra won 1-0 at Porthmadog in January and will fancy their chances of scooping another three points against the same opponents at Alyn Park.
Both teams are off-form, however, each having not won in five starts.
Prestatyn Town produced a great comeback to prevail 2-1 at Penrhyncoch last weekend, while Gresford Athletic celebrated a fine 1-0 success over Ruthin the same day.
On Saturday, Prestatyn welcome Gresford to Bastion Gardens for what should be an interesting contest. Town can win this one, but it could be close.
SCORECASTS
Ruthin Town 3 Llanidloes Town 2
Chirk AAA 2 Penrhyncoch 1
Colwyn Bay 5 Conwy Borough 1
Holyhead Hotspur 1 Guilsfield 3
Holywell Town 3 Cefn Druids 0
Llandudno 1 Buckley Town 1
Mold Alexandra 2 Porthmadog 0
Prestatyn Town 3 Gresford Athletic 2
ARDAL NORTH EAST
Bow Street boosted their profile in the title contenders list with a superb 2-1 win at fellow high-riders Cefn Albion last weekend.
And third-place Bow can be the winning side again when they host Dolgellau at Cae Piod on Saturday.
Street should be aware, however, that Dol were 3-0 down to leaders Caersws last weekend, but fought back to 3-3 only for the Bluebirds to nick it 4-3 in the end.
Builth Wells were stunned 4-2 at home by next-to-bottom Corwen last Saturday, but the Lant Avenue side are good enough to recover and beat this weekend’s visitors Penycae.
Table-toppers Caersws should be far too good for a Llanfair United team which has forgotten how to win.
Much-improved Corwen, unbeaten in 2023, look to be a great pick for three points at home to Llanrhaeadr, whose recent record has been patchy.
Cefn Albion can take the honours at Llangollen Town, hosts Llanuwchllyn should overcome FAW Trophy semi-finalists Llandrindod Wells and Rhos Aelwyd can end a sequence of three without a victory when they take on Rhayader Town at Ponciau Park.
SCORECASTS
Bow Street 4 Dolgellau AA 1
Builth Wells 2 Penycae 0
Caersws 5 Llanfair United 0
Corwen 3 Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant 1
Llangollen Town 1 Cefn Albion 3
Llanuwchllyn 3 Llandrindod Wells 2
Rhos Aelwyd 2 Rhayader Town 0
ARDAL NORTH WEST
A top-of-the-table crunch clash is on the agenda this Friday when Denbigh Town play at home to Bangor 1876.
FAW Trophy semi-finalists Town have won seven on the bounce, while 1876 lost their season-long unbeaten record in the league last weekend when Llangefni Town triumphed 2-1 at Treborth.
Third-place Bangor are seven points ahead of Denbigh, who sit fourth and have played two less games than 1876.
Bangor have already lost once at Central Park this season, suffering a 3-1 reverse to Dewi Llion’s men in the Ardal North League Cup in December.
Can Bangor produce a big turnaround after last weekend’s stunning loss, or will Denbigh keep up their irresistible, goal-packed form?
Brickfield Rangers have been inconsistent for most of the campaign, but should have enough to claim three points on Saturday at the expense of visitors Felinheli, who will nonetheless be lifted by their 4-1 League Cup success against Llanrwst last weekend.
Can Llangefni Town spring another surprise on the road when they visit leaders CPD Y Rhyl 1879?
Gareth Thomas’s Lilywhites are getting back to full strength now after a testing few weeks where they have nonetheless kept on winning.
Cefni can push Rhyl hard, but expect the hosts to finish on top.
Flint Mountain, left shell-shocked after losing a three-goal lead against bottom team Rhostyllen last time out and having to settle for a 3-3 draw, should get it right this time when strugglers Llandudno Albion call at the Essity Stadium on Saturday.
Nantlle Vale are hard to predict and may drop points at Hawarden Rangers, Llanrwst United, with no wins in eight, can get a draw at least at home to Saltney Town, while despite last weekend’s heroics at Mountain, Rhostyllen may well finish second best at Llay Welfare.
SCORECASTS
Denbigh Town 3 Bangor 1876 2
Brickfield Rangers 2 CPD Y Felinheli 1
CPD Y Rhyl 1879 3 Llangefni Town 1
Flint Mountain 4 Llandudno Albion 2
Hawarden Rangers 1 Nantlle Vale 1
Llanrwst United 2 Saltney Town 2
Llay Welfare 3 Rhostyllen 1
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